Todd Palin sat with his wife, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, during the final night of the Republican convention.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (CNN) - A special counsel has asked Alaskan lawmakers to subpoena Gov. Sarah Palin's husband and a dozen aides as part of the investigation into Palin's firing of her public safety commissioner.

Todd Palin has been a "principal critic" of his wife's ex-brother-in-law, State Trooper Mike Wooten, and had "many contacts" with Department of Public Safety officials about his status, said Steve Branchflower, the former prosecutor hired by the state Legislature to investigate the firing.

Sarah Palin, now the Republican nominee for vice president, is battling allegations that she and her advisers pressured then-Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan to fire Wooten - and that Monegan was canned when he refused.

Palin has said she fired Monegan over budget issues and denies any wrongdoing.

soundoff(726 Responses)

indea

I bet they will try to quash the subpoena. The more I hear about Palin, the more she has in common with George Bush. The delaying tactics, the executive privilege, etc., etc. And also the extremist worldview...

September 12, 2008 03:08 pm at 3:08 pm |

mitchell

good. the american people need to know what kind of leader palin is. i have deep reservations about her.

September 12, 2008 03:09 pm at 3:09 pm |

oswanegan

D'oh... it's your turn to coached Mr. 1st dude!

September 12, 2008 03:09 pm at 3:09 pm |

Ommi

Bush/Cheney fooled me in 2000 and then in 2004 and now McCain/Palin would like to try and fool me again.Twice is enough,I am not a idot for they to fool me a third time.America wake up or else you will be sleeping forever if we have another 4 years of the same.

Sarah Palin restore your integrity and stop letting the McCain and Bush people have you to lie.STOP THE LIES AND tell the American people the truth.

September 12, 2008 03:09 pm at 3:09 pm |

Scott in PacNW

This should be the top news story in the CNN Politics section. Better start praying for the investigation to end! It's God's will and all that.

September 12, 2008 03:09 pm at 3:09 pm |

Roy Arellano (San Antonio)

Now I don't know if the using personal (private) emails vs. office emails comments made earlier are true or not, but I do know that the husband was attached to over a 1000 emails sent from her official account. If they are about nothing, say personal emails, hello emails, family conversational emails, then what's the hold-up? Show them...so what.

BUT, if they had anything to do with the case under investigation or which would counter her "stump" (laughable) then let's not wait until this politician (which she is, by the way, SHE IS THE GOOD-OL' BOY SYSTEM) has the second most important job in our Executive branch of Government.

September 12, 2008 03:09 pm at 3:09 pm |

Barbara

Relax folks – the Bush/Cheney/Rove/McCain crew will take care of the whole thing – it's another distraction from them discussing our issues as a nation.

I'd also like to see them investigate why at 8 months "pregnant" she didn't look anything like she did in her previous pregnancies, why paperwork and pictures disappeared and why Bristol needed a 5 month break by happenstance at the time period the recent baby was born. It all stinks Palin, you're not fooling anybody!

And by the way. I'm a Republican! Obama 08

September 12, 2008 03:09 pm at 3:09 pm |

BOBBY K. FROM BIRMINGHAM, AL.

I posted a comment and is awaiting moderation from CNN!!!!

QUESTION: WHY DO SOME PEOPLE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IN LIES AND EXPECT SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM THE SAME MESSED UP SITUATION?

REPUBLICANS PLEASE RESPOND

September 12, 2008 03:09 pm at 3:09 pm |

greenhx

Is this the kind of Change that the McCain ticket is offering? If so that but know thanks!!!!!

September 12, 2008 03:09 pm at 3:09 pm |

Lance

She cited "executive privilege" for not releasing more than 1000 emails. She also cited the same for not allow her staffs to testify.

"executive privilege". Sound familiar?

September 12, 2008 03:10 pm at 3:10 pm |

Cathy in MD

That sounds reasonable.

September 12, 2008 03:10 pm at 3:10 pm |

Anonymous

I think Palin and all involved needs to be on a panel for all of America to watch to see how Sarah conducts business and seperates family. I am really a little concerned, I like her, she could be a good neighbor, but that may be for only a selected few. Please we dont need drama in our government we need dedication and a proactive stance for change. I fear that McCain is using Palin as a campaign puppet but what happens when you tie a pit bull to a tree. This is to much barking for me. I am tired I struggle, pay dearly for gas and watch a war that they have done what their told to do and war mongels are stirring the pot. Let us hear from Palin's husband, exbrother in law and others involved, let them tell us about Palin not neighbors and co workers.

September 12, 2008 03:10 pm at 3:10 pm |

Todd in SC

To all you people who say this is all politically motivated,look at the FACT that the Republicans and Democrats in Alaska voted UNANIMOUSLY to spend state money on this investigation.

September 12, 2008 03:10 pm at 3:10 pm |

Ian Minneapolis, MN

Good, No one is above the law no matter who they are or no matter how much "executive privilage" they think they have.

September 12, 2008 03:10 pm at 3:10 pm |

Ken

Its incredible that the republican radio shows (MR H especially) has tried to justify everything about Palin. Could MaCain have rushed to judgement (in choosing Palin) in an effort to become the president at any cost. It seems like Ms Palin and Her Husband were not properly vetted. If thats the case, will you trust MaCain to make a wartime decision. Will he take the time to think through the pros and cons? I intentionally did not spend much time discussing Palins husband in this piece, because there really is nothing to talk about.

September 12, 2008 03:10 pm at 3:10 pm |

Melanie Stiglianese

I don't know why Karl Rove being the campaign manager has not been more publicized. This is something Republicans, I'm sure, don't want many people to know. That sure says about the Republican Campaign Machine.

September 12, 2008 03:10 pm at 3:10 pm |

Bryan, Michigan

Yes it is all sexist. No male would ever be investigated for ethics violations.

For those that think the Dems are being sexist, go look at what the GOP said about Hillary throughout the primaries. The same thing they accuse the Dems of now as being sexist. I am so sick of the GOP talking out both sides of their mouths. People need to check facts before the believe the garbage being put in ads and in the statements coming from McCain.

September 12, 2008 03:11 pm at 3:11 pm |

Holly from Minnesota

Oh, she'll just pull a Karl Rove and refuse to appear–and the government'll back it. Just watch.

September 12, 2008 03:11 pm at 3:11 pm |

Anonymous

The Dems are running scared. Thats all they can do now to save this election is to find something negative to report. They are so desperate they have over 30 reporters in Texas to dig us something. They even went so far as to comment that Sarah was upset when she found out her daughter was pregnant, DAH!!!

September 12, 2008 03:11 pm at 3:11 pm |

Foreign observer

It´s a simple asking procedure and in case there is nothing hidden there will be no prossecutor.

September 12, 2008 03:11 pm at 3:11 pm |

White Mother for Obama!!

LOL... they need to do something.

If McCain cant pick a decent running mate how is he going to run office??

Did anyone even read about the View?? LOL I thought that was crazily funny!! Good Going Barbara!!!

It proves that McCain and Palin keep repeating the same thing even when grilled... THEY have NO CLUE!! They are just having fun running for the White House!!

Its so obvious they have no plan for any issues!! Its all just hot air!!

September 12, 2008 03:11 pm at 3:11 pm |

Be an informed voter ...

I believe this has something to do with a report i saw last week that she had actually copied him on some of the e-mails pertaining to the investigation. Which, if true, would eliminate the possibility that she could claim "executive privilege" in the matter and ask her aides and confidants NOT to submit to subpoenas – a la Karl Rove. I'd say - stay tuned on this one.

September 12, 2008 03:12 pm at 3:12 pm |

BJGT

sneaking, lying, and coverups –
McBush/Palin

September 12, 2008 03:12 pm at 3:12 pm |

Andy J, NY

Is this what democrats mean when they say they want to "stick to the issues?"

Just sayin.

and R. Squibbs- talk about sexist persecution, how many times do you see senator's or governor's wife get a subpoena to testify on what their husband did in office? I'm not one to throw charges of sexism around, because people playing the victim is a huge turn off. The different treatment does make you wonder, though.

But then again, perhaps you're the type who thinks im a racist because i'm white and will not vote for Obama- ever. (who cares that hes a typical liberal socialist?)

Of course Todd Palin is going to back his wife, so why even bother? Seems like a witch hunt, and if the guy who was fired had a problem with it, why didn't he do something about it?